Does anyone have any tips on becoming a wedding planner my friend had come up with the idea and since she is a business savy person and I am a very creative person and both of us being completley organized we are considering making a business move together we have been friends for well over 7 years now and we are both young and looking for a great start to our lives so any tips would be welcomed.
2007-01-12 23:11:36 · 6 answers · asked by Anonymous in Family & Relationships ➔ Weddings
I would suggest taking a certificaiton class. I am also a wedding planner and am certified through Weddings Beautiful Worldwide. The whole 18-course series is going to cost you 695.00 each, but it is well worth the price. The president of the organization, Nancy, grades each assignment herself and then will email you the grade. The program covers a lot of different subjects and is MUCH more thorough than the one offered by ABC (the Association of Bridal Consultants)...they are mostly in it for the money and don't care much about their members...stick with WBW.
2007-01-12 23:24:05 · answer #1 · answered by VAWeddingSpecialist 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would suggest taking an accredited course- i think the wedding planners association offers them. So get your certificate, then you have a way to begin.
Next i would suggest offering your services for free (maybe to 3 or 4 couples) on Craigslist or something similar. Tell them the only requirement is that you are allowed to use them as a reference to future customers. That would give you a client base and the experience you need to begin working as a planner.
Head over to the local bridal boutiques and see would they be willing to have some of your business cards at their front desk for customers.
Start a wedding newsletter yourself that contains other vendors in the wedding industry in your area- such as caterers, florists, halls, etc.
Try to get a booth at a bridal fair in your area.
Contact all of the places and services that cater to weddings and build areference book. Make sure to note all fees, prices, services or things offered and update it every 6 months or so- just so you can be as correct as possible when quoting customers.
When you contact each place, try and make a time when you can meet a rep from that place and build a strong relationship. Many good deals are from people who like the person they are working with.
Lastly- dont be overly expensive. Have about 3 different price ranges for your potential customers to choose from, and make each package better than the last. You can also allow the couples to custom design their wedding themselves with your help.
2007-01-13 12:05:18 · answer #2 · answered by glorymomof3 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Weddings are a big deal to the people getting married and their parents. Inexperienced planners are not going to get much business. Sound like you have all the smarts but no experience. I would recommend working for a wedding planner or banquet planners to learn the ropes. You could watch your company, see what works and see what doesn't work. You could then apply that experience and start your own business a year or two down the line. Good Luck.
2007-01-13 07:18:25 · answer #3 · answered by Jimmy 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Here is a article I had saved about starting to work as a planner:
http://www.entrepreneur.com/startingabusiness/businessideas/startupkits/article41348.html
It mentions a lot of aspects of it, like certifications and a lot of the other business aspects of it as well.
2007-01-13 08:43:48 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Collect all the information you need about it and do lots of reading on the subject to gain full knowledge of what you intened to do. stephi Stewart Weddings is a good place to start you can find her on the web and she wrote a book http://www.fireyourweddingplanner.com
2007-01-13 07:15:30 · answer #5 · answered by sarell 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No huni, but GOOD LUCK! This would be my dream job!!Im planning my own wedding at present and loving it!!
2007-01-13 07:15:49 · answer #6 · answered by TP 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋